Megaphorb

Megaphorb is an area with communities of tall, exuberant, perennial herbs.[1] The plant communities provide ground cover and often exist on the margins of wooded areas or forests or terrain that has recently been cleared.[2] This type of vegetation also occurs near disturbed areas such as adjacent to creeks or rivers. These plant communities are often found in mountainous areas.

Regrowth of a megaphorb community after forest fire

Areas that a metaphor layer frequents are margins of wooded areas or forests that have recently been deforested or where logging has occurred. Given the now newly open area it provides ample conditions for a metaphor layer to produce. Other areas in which megaphorbs may appear are along the banks of streams and rivers where there is a lack of plant life and nothing obstructing the upwards growth of the plants. This is metaphor growth is beneficial to things such as streams and rivers as the root systems will provide structure to the banks and reduce erosion of the waterway

outwards in seasons of heavy rainfall (e.g. Growing Season). Once this layer begins to die off once peak growing conditions are over it provides decaying plant material to the surrounding area which can be used for a number of crucial processes that can boost the nutrient ratio within the soil. Detritus feeders can break this material down and use the nutrients for themselves as well which provides a full circle of energy transfer.